Parliament to probe state capture this week

STATE capture will come under the scrutiny of Parliament this week, with the portfolio committee on public enterprises to resume its work after the national legislature gave it funding for the investigation.

The delivery of the resources required by MPs to probe the Guptas comes after the committee warned it would be hard to dig into state capture without resources.

However, the investigation of the public enterprises committee will coincide with the appearance of National Prosecuting Authority head Shaun Abrahams in Parliament on the matter.

The portfolio committee on justice and correctional services confirmed yesterday that Abrahams would face tough questions for failing to prosecute those involved in state capture despite evidence being given to the authorities for prosecution.

Abrahams’s appearance tomorrow before the justice committee, chaired by Mathole Motshekga, comes after months of calls that he begin with the prosecution of people implicated in state capture.

House chairperson in the National Assembly Cedric Frolick tasked several committees to investigate state capture.

The list of committees probing the matter includes communications, mineral resources, transport, home affairs and public enterprises.

President Jacob Zuma had complained about the multiple investigations by Parliament into state capture when he was working towards setting up a commission of inquiry.

In her report last year, former public protector Thuli Madonsela recommended that Zuma ask Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng to appoint a sole judge to lead the inquiry.

However, Zuma is taking Madonsela’s report on review because he disagreed with some of the findings, including preventing him appointing a commission of inquiry.

Parties in Parliament also raised a question of conflict of interest around Zuma in that he could not appoint a commission of inquiry when he was implicated.